Overview for The Asian Elephant in Captivity: A Field Study

Today, one out of three Asian elephants lives in captivity. Although captive elephants have existed since 3,500 years, they have never been domesticated. The lack of fundamental knowledge about wild elephants induces anthropocentric actions and argumentation, but is of little help to the captive elephants. This book provides data on ecology and behaviour of captive elephants in relation to their wild conspecifics and recommendations on how to improve the living conditions of captive elephants.

This book provides data on ecology and behaviour of captive elephants in relation to their wild conspecifics. They stem from a recent research project of the authors and their co-workers in Sri Lanka and also from a number of their studies on wild and captive elephants in Sri Lanka, South India, Myanmar and South Africa as well as in several European zoos and circuses. Aspects of social behaviour, reproduction and musth as well as stereotypical behaviour, sleep and tool-use of wild and captive elephants are described. Finally, recommendations on how to improve the living conditions of captive elephants are also added.

Marion E. Garai (Author)

Dr. Marion E. Garai, member of the African Elephant Specialist group of IUCN, is the founder of the Elephant Management & Owners Association (EMOA) in South Africa and has been its Chairperson for the past 12 years. She is also the Chairperson of the Space for Elephants Foundation (SEF) since 2005.

Fred Kurt (Author)

Dr. Fred Kurt, member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group of IUCN, has been a lecturer of Population Ecology and Conservation Biology at the University and the Pedagogic High School of Zurich, Switzerland, and later at the University of Veterinary sciences of Vienna, Austria. Since retirement, he is involved in the first European Elephant Management School and the European Elephant Group.